Hamer Guitar History

Hamer Guitars

Chicago has a music vibe that is undeniable and contagious. In 1973 , a small troupe of builders set out to build modern guitars with a vibrant vintage soul. In that moment, Hamer Guitars created the boutique custom shop guitar category. It is fitting that the home of the blues gave birth to the finest electric guitars on earth.

History of Fender Guitars

Fender Guitars

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is the world's foremost manufacturer of guitars, basses, amplifiers and related equipment. With an illustrious history dating back to 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock 'n' roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues and many others. Everyone from beginners and hobbyists to the world’s most acclaimed artists and performers have used Fender instruments and amps, and legendary Fender instruments such as the Telecaster® and Stratocaster® guitars and Precision® and Jazz® bass guitars are universally acclaimed as design classics.

Carvin Guitar History

Carvin Guitars Factory

Carvin Corporation is an American guitar, musical instrument and equipment manufacturer located in San Diego, California. Carvin was founded in 1946 by Lowell Kiesel, and originally manufactured guitar pickups. The company was founded in Southern California in 1946 as the L. C. Kiesel Company. As of 1947, the company was manufacturing steel guitars in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Around 1948, it returned to Southern California and moved to Baldwin Park, California in 1949, where the company name was changed to Carvin, from Kiesel's two eldest sons, Carson and Gavin. Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, Carvin manufactured guitars and bass guitars, largely from bodies and necks made by Höfner. During this period, they also manufactured amplifiers and steel guitars, and were authorized resellers of other gear, including Fender and Martin guitars, DeArmond pickups and Sonola accordions.

The PRS Story

Paul Reed Smith - PRS

The road from my workshop in a historic, haunted Annapolis garret to a state-of-the-art factory was a tough one. Fact is, I always loved working with my hands. Why else would a high school kid sign up for three or four shop classes at a time? My first guitar was built as a challenge to my college music professor for some credits. I got an "A" and decided to pursue my dream of making guitars for a living.

Guitarist That Collaborated With Ozzy Osbourne

Randy Rhoads

Most of us know 3 or 4 guitarist that have collaborated with Ozzy Osbourne through his solo career, but there many more that most of us never heard of or knew about. Here's the full list of 10 in the correct order.

The Story Behind The Wish Bass

Wish Bass

Steve Wishnevsky from North Carolina is the man behind the unique Wish Basses. He States "We want to make you the best sounding Fretless Electric Bass in the world for about what you would pay for an entry level imported bass."

Who's the Real Father of the Modern Electric Guitar

Paul Bigsby

In the early 1940s, Les Paul built a primitive instrument called "The Log" with electric pickups attached to a solid pinewood block. The Fender and the Gibson companies brought the solidbody electric to the masses.

G&L Guitars Factory Video Tour And History

G&L Guitars Factory - Cutting G&L Guitar Body using a Bandsaw

Leo Fender passed away on a rainy day in March of 1991, an event which shook the Music World: The father of modern music was gone. It was on that very day that Leo had completed his last prototype instrument, after which he declared to his wife Phyllis that he had given all he can to the musicians of the world.

How Gibson Guitars Are Built

Made in America TV Show

Have you ever wondered how the guitar manufacturing giant Gibson makes their guitars? From how they choose their wood, set the necks, fret installation, sanding, finish etc.. Watch this 7 minute episode of Made in America.

The Story Behind Rocktron

Rocktron launched in 1983 when founder, Bob Waller, along with co-hort Jim Chowning and others stepped back from a long musical career that included stints on the Hollywood club circuit and the Detroit to Toronto circuit. Using their background from years of club and concert appearances with their rock bands (The Blame, and originally Wildwood), the boys decided to launch a company aimed at producing top quality signal processing, amplification and effects.